A Gambling Man: Charles II and the Restoration 1660–1670

Author: Jenny Uglow

Publisher: Faber and Faber

Edition: 2009

Binding: Hardcover

Pages: 580

Size: 6 × 2 × 9 inches

Language: English

 

A Gambling Man examines one of the most fascinating periods in British history: the decade immediately following the restoration of Charles II to the throne in 1660.

After the upheavals of the English Civil Wars, the execution of Charles I, and the years of republican government, the return of Charles II marked a dramatic change in English political and social life. The Restoration brought back the monarchy while also creating a society shaped by the experiences and conflicts of the previous decades.

Jenny Uglow focuses on the period from 1660 to 1670, exploring the personalities and events that defined the early Restoration. Charles II stands at the centre of the narrative, but the book extends far beyond the monarch himself, examining politicians, courtiers, intellectuals, artists, scientists, writers, and ordinary people affected by the changing political environment.

The Restoration court was characterised by a mixture of politics, pleasure, ambition, intrigue, and uncertainty. Charles II’s personality and style of rule influenced the character of the period, while his court became a centre of cultural and social activity.

The book also examines the wider transformation of English society. The Restoration was not simply the return of a king; it was a period in which institutions, cultural practices, religious tensions, and political expectations were being renegotiated.

Uglow explores the political struggles surrounding the restored monarchy, including questions of royal authority, Parliament, religion, and the continuing tensions created by the Civil War and Commonwealth periods.

The decade was also marked by major historical events. The Great Plague of London in 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666 dramatically affected the population and landscape of England. These events form part of the broader story of a society experiencing both disruption and renewal.

The period also witnessed important developments in science and intellectual life. The foundation and activities of the Royal Society reflected the growing interest in experimental science and the investigation of the natural world. Writers and thinkers of the period contributed to an increasingly dynamic intellectual culture.

Culture and entertainment also flourished during the Restoration. Theatre returned to public life, and literature, architecture, fashion, music, and visual culture all developed in distinctive ways. The period’s cultural history provides an important counterpoint to its political conflicts.

Uglow’s narrative approach allows these different aspects of Restoration England to be brought together. Rather than treating political history separately from social and cultural history, the book presents a broad picture of how people actually experienced the decade.

The title A Gambling Man reflects the uncertainty and risk associated with Charles II’s reign and the political environment in which he operated. The restored monarchy itself was navigating a delicate balance between royal ambitions, parliamentary authority, religious divisions, and the memories of civil conflict.

For readers interested in British history, the book offers a detailed account of a crucial transitional period between the upheavals of the seventeenth century and the development of modern British political and cultural life.

Published by Faber and Faber in 2009, this hardcover edition contains 580 pages and measures approximately 6 × 2 × 9 inches. Its substantial size and detailed historical scope make it particularly suitable for collections devoted to British history, monarchy, Restoration England, and seventeenth-century studies.

• Written by Jenny Uglow
• Focuses on Charles II and the English Restoration
• Covers 1660–1670
• Published by Faber and Faber
• 2009 Edition
• Hardcover binding
• 580 pages
• Size: 6 × 2 × 9 inches
• Language: English
• Explores Restoration politics and society
• Covers the reign and court of Charles II
• Discusses the Great Plague and Great Fire of London
• Explores Restoration culture, theatre, science, and intellectual life
• Valuable study of seventeenth-century British history
• Suitable for history students, researchers, and collectors

🔹 Collector’s Note

This 2009 Faber and Faber hardcover edition of A Gambling Man is a substantial work of British history focusing on the fascinating first decade of the Restoration. Its detailed treatment of Charles II, politics, society, culture, religion, science, and major events of the 1660s makes it an excellent addition to collections of British History & Culture and historical non-fiction.